Exotic African hardwood creates a dramatic two-toned look. Deep, chocolate brown and light, sandy yellow colors and striking shapes and textures are sure to be a focal point in any aquarium. Dense, natural driftwood is also an excellent way to anchor plants. Small 6" - 8", Medium 10" - 12", Large 16" - 18".

Please click on "More Information" for detailed steps and instructions on driftwood placement in aquariums.

Just as you would cure other natural structures (live rock, etc) before adding them to your aquarium, it is important to thoroughly soak driftwood prior to placement. This helps saturate the wood, loosen debris caught in the grain, and leach out tannic acids which would otherwise discolor your water. Tannic acid, while unsightly, won't harm your tank, but it will slightly lower your pH levels, a concern among some cichlid enthusiasts.

To avoid discoloring your water, soak your driftwood for as long as possible before placement. Total submersion for 1-2 weeks is recommended, since the tannic acids take that long to completely leach out of the dense wood. Boiling your driftwood in a large stock pot for 1-2 hours prior to soaking may help shorten the required cure time down to 48-72 hours. Only use dechlorinated or RO water, and scrub the wood with an algae brush to remove excess dirt.

Monitor your soaking driftwood throughout the week, watching as the water darkens, and refresh the soak water every other day or so, until you no longer notice any discoloration for several days in a row. The driftwood is then ready for placement.

If your water discolors even after your patient weeks of soaking, we recommend Purigen (item #434587) to help clarify your water again.

Using Driftwood to create "Black Water" Aquariums
Some aquarists use the tannic acids in driftwood to naturally lower the pH in their tanks, and/or to create the tea-colored "black water" thought to be the preference of Amazonian Tetras like neons, cardinals, rummynoses, and bleeding hearts. If this is your preference, then only a short soak and scrub is necessary before adding driftwood to your aquarium.

The easiest way to arrange your aquarium scape is after you have removed water during a water change. Rearrange your aquarium, adding the driftwood where you want it, before refilling the aquarium.

The most exciting transformation your aquarium goes through is from a tank filled with water to a water world filled with plants, decorations and fish. When you aquascape, you are literally creating an aquatic landscape in your aquarium.

Artificial plants and aquarium décor instantly beautify your aquarium environment and help create an underwater world of wonder. Many choose artificial plants and décor for a variety of reasons, but the most desirable benefit is their ease of care.

Artificial plants transform your underwater world from dull to extraordinary - almost instantly. They create a lush, natural-looking habitat with added color, dimension, movement, and cover; without the special conditions or care live plants require.

The variety and realism of artificial plants have improved considerably over the years and aquarists are no longer limited to just a few choices. Artificial plants are now available in fresh and saltwater species, plastic or fabric construction.

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Mopani Driftwood Small
4.2
5
71
71

Excellent
Buying this Mopani Driftwood sight unseen made me feel nervous but when I opened my delivered package today I was so delightfully surprised at how nice the wood was! I'm soaking it now but can't wait to put it into my tank! Great buy!
July 22, 2015

"WOW" !!!
Not only is this driftwood inexpensive its Beautiful !!! I wish i had more aquariums to to place it in !
July 19, 2015

Mopani Driftwood
I ordered the small Mopani driftwood as an accent piece in my 29 gallon planted tank. It arrived quickly and was pretty clean, though I did scrub it with a stiff brush to get some minor grit off. And after soaking it in a bucket of regularly changed water for two weeks (it took three days to saturate and stop floating), it doesn't noticeably discolor the water in the display tank or lower the pH. Plus, it looks really good! It has an intriguing form and pleasing color variation. If you're looking for a natural piece of driftwood, Mopani is a good way to go!
May 22, 2015

Aquarium Driftwood Decoration
I currently have three of the five pieces of Mopani Driftwood in one of my aquariums, They are very oddly shaped and knotted with a deep reddish color which accent my aquarium beautifully. It's a lot of work to get the tannins out but the constant complements make all worth while.
March 25, 2015

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Answer:

I had a well established african cichlid set up and had decided to add a 20" piece of the mopani wood. The wood does grow a white filmy\stringy mold or moss on it as its adjusting to being underwater even if you boil it before hand. Might need to wash the moss of a couple of times. After a week or two it disappears and the tanin in the wood does leach out. I had found out that most freshwater tropical can benefit from this chemical. I noticed it helped to maintain a healthy balance in the tank and with the red and black color scheme inside of it the brown tint to the water actually made it look much better. I also noticed color enrichment in my fish.

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Yes. Just be sure to leach the tannins out of the wood. These tannins are typically harmless, but they can slightly adjust your pH levels. Tropical fish can adapt, but it's a safer bet to just leach them out. Plus, you'll have clearer water.

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To the best of my knowledge Mopani driftwood should be safe for any freshwater aquarium fish. However, you must realize that it can make the water slightly more acidic, so depending upon what fish you have in your tank you will need to monitor your PH to make sure it does not become too acidic over time. Of course, all you need to do is adjust your PH gradually to compensate for any changes. Some fish, such as discus, thrive in acidic water and love the lower Ph, which makes the Mopani driftwood an excellent choice for their tanks. However, all fish need places to hide and reduce stress, and nice driftwood is an excellent way to help accomplish this.

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I have yet to hear of any issues with any fish, but be sure to do your research. The initial release of tannins may affect your PH, so double check before adding anything to a tank with sensitive fish.

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Answers

That is perfectly normal. I had the same problem with mine but...1) It's perfectly harmless2) It will go away eventually without needing to boil it.3) Some fish love to peck on it :D My Mollies used to eat off of it all the time. :)

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Hey! I experienced this "White Fuzz" didnt seem to harm anything; and my snails and shrimp liked to snack on it. From what i have been able to find its not harmful; and if you dont like looking at it you can take the wood out and boil it again, or take a clean toothbrush and try and brush it off maybe?

Just noticed your question is 7 months old but hopefully it helps anyway! :)

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I recently added some Mopani that I had just soaked, not boiled. I noticed the same white fuzz not too long after putting it in. My Loach and/or Pleko took care of it rather quickly and had no effect on the other fish in my tank.

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I had the same problem after many boilings and soakings over a months time period. Finally took all the Mopani wood OUT of my tank. The white fuzz looking stuff make my tank look cloudy and milky. Although Mopani wood is beautiful, it never lowered my PH or softened the water as advertised!!!

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Thank you for your question. The fuzz on the driftwood is most likely a bacteria bloom; it is not caused by the driftwood. However, the driftwood provides the perfect environment for it to grow. You may scrub it off periodically or leave it as it will not harm the inhabitants in your aquarium. cmc

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I have a Florida softshell, and I'm planning to set up a blackwater tank for it, for many reasons. Being that I want the tannins in the the tank, do I still need to soak or boil the driftwood, or can I place it inside as-is?

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As I wanted a low-PH tank, I just threw my driftwood on the shower floor and let the cold water run over it for about a half-hour. Flipped it over for an additional half-hour and then put it into the tank. It added a lot of tannins to the water and looks great! It has been in the tank for years and years and hasn't caused any problems at all.

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No, you do not. However, it wouldn't hurt to rinse it off to get any loose dirt and other things off of it. It may try to float at first, but once all the air bubbles escape from the wood, it shouldn't be a problem ;)

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I would like to know if this driftwood can be used as an ornamental piece on the floor of my living-room....using a spray to seal it. I do NOT need it for an aquarium or anything like that. Yrs. ago we used to get driftwood and make floral arrangements out of them using silk flowers. Would this be the same type of material?

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Answer:

After causing problems in my Discus tank, I removed it. Four beautiful pieces then became decoration on my screened Florida Room. Make sure you seal it good or put it on tile (not carpet) or if it gets damp or wet it will stain the carpet.

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I would think you'd want a lighter wood for floral arrangements but otherwise I don't see why not. The woods sold for aquariums are very dense and very heavy since they have to sink in the water, so if the floral arrangements are to be hung on a wall or something then I wouldn't recommend this, but if they are just going to be placed on a shelf or table then this is a beautiful 2 tone wood that should work well.

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I have a nice set up above my fire place, with my rabit fur and stuffed coons, and have had 2 chunks of the tank drift wood setting along with it, looks real nice.. It has been there for 5-6 years and no issues, It collects Dust very easy, But I use a little cooking oil on a rag and a tooth brush to clean it every so often and no issues.Out side I have a Large chunk Of Pine root drift wood by my pond, Its been around for more then 30 years, But it has been keep up on rocks and not setting iin the dirt... So as far as Material, Just figure out what kind of wood it is, you can even seal with poly if you feel the need and like a shine.

3 years, 10 months ago

by

Anonymous

st louis, Michigan

+2points

2out of2found this answer helpful.

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On 04/09/12 I ordered two pieces of Mopani Wood (one medium and one small) and a 100ML of Purigen. from Drs F&S. After readiing reviews on your site, I decided to boil the wood prior to placing it in my 36 Gal Bowfront. I boiled the wood at two hour intervals, changed the water, and boiled it a total of 10 times over a 3 day period. I then soaked it in decholorinated water for 24 hours, changed the water and repeated it for two more days. After placing it in my tank it turned the water a dark brown. I inserted a 100 ML bag of Purigen in my external Marineland 200 Power Filter which still left the water very dark again. I have 4 Discus and 4 Coryea Catfish in the tank, undergravel filter and the tank has been set up since since October 12, 2011. The wood is beautiful and well worth the money, but I want to see my fish in a more clear water. What do you offer for a solution to remove more tannins?

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Unfortunately, about the only con to Mopani drfitwood is that it has a ton of tannins and will take forever to leach them out. It literally took me weeks to leach most of the tannins from my driftwood. The keyword there is "most." I didn't get them all out, prior to placing it in the tank. I just got tired of waiting and honestly, in my 75gal it's unnoticeable. The color dissipates in the water and is probably soaked up in my sponge/floss filters. You could probably add some carbon filtration for a week and get it cleaned up. Either tat, or add some sponge/floss to soak up the tannins. Should be able to get most of it.

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I wouldn't add chemicals. Discus are beautiful, expensive fish, and corycats are somewhat sensitive being scaleless. My water was brownish for a very long time after putting the wood in, but after a month (1-2xs a week) of partial water changes, the brown went away. I actually didn't mind it as I was hoping it would lower my pH (it didn't). The tannins will not hurt your fish, but you could try soaking the wood in a bucket for a week or so, changing the water everyday. Good luck!

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